Data integration is the process of synchronizing data in multiple disparate production systems. Many companies use systems outside of SAP for specific applications, e.g., Siebel or SalesForce.com for CRM, or PeopleSoft for HR. The data between these systems needs to remain consistent at all times in order to support critical business decisions and operations. Ideally, the data between these systems needs to be uniform to allow the existence of "a single version of the truth." Additionally, transactional data, such as invoices, sales orders, reconciliation statements, etc. often needs to be exchanged between the company's SAP system and its customers, suppliers, and service providers systems.
While there are a variety of software choices available for real-time data integration between multiple systems, these software packages are typically complex, have large footprints, and are difficult to install and use for business users.
transactionSHUTTLE can be used for cost savings in a wide variety of data integration scenarios where Excel spreadsheets or Access databases become the common data interchange mechanism. Thus, data is extracted or received from external systems in spreadsheet formats and can then be easily loaded into SAP using mappings saved in the data loading software.
Example: Automating American Express Statement Reconciliation at B.Braun
B.Braun, a medical device manufacturer, uses Winshuttle's transactionSHUTTLE software to upload and reconcile their American Express bill. This was a previously a manual process and would take several days of manual data entry every month. B. Braun was able to save many hundreds of man hours every year and was able to speed-up month-end closing.
The following figure shows an example screenshot of a data integration scenario where the incoming cash statement from the bank is posted into the F-28 transaction of SAP.
Read about the details in the B Braun Case Study.
"With Winshuttle, you can import massive amounts of data directly from a spreadsheet, which is a format that employees know and understand. It's changed how we approach all kinds of SAP data” from mass changes to periodic data cleansing."
- Lynn Farrell, SAP HR and Payroll Manager, Southwark Council
"We're a victim of our own success. I'm adding another member to our team because of the sheer volume of data we're handling with transactionSHUTTLE. This solution has completely changed how we approach and manage many of our projects."
- Peter Hebert, manager of HR data management, RBC
"transactionSHUTTLE gives us the ability to do things we weren't able to do before. We have significantly reduced our manual data entry costs, reduced headcount, and minimized the burden on IT."
- Paul Cahill, Director of Information Technology, Hubbell Wiring Systems
"We have saved over $1 Million in avoided programming, reduced data entry workload costs and Service Level Agreement (SLA) costs."
- Chantal Gauvreau, Business Process Manager, SAP Center of Excellence, Canada Post
"Winshuttle offers the complete automation solution. It's easy-to-install, well-documented desktop software, with excellent technical support"
- Erin Stone, SAP FI/CO Senior Analyst, B. Braun
"Data entry is no longer an IT headache. Our users no longer blame our SAP system and instead fully embrace it."
- Rick Davis, Manager, Enterprise Systems
We now use the term "Winshuttling" to refer to any solution that makes our lives easier.
- Steve Walker, Manager of Supply Chain Systems, Under Armour